STRAND spotlight

Elinor Goldberg was the winner of a pass good for free movies for a year! Her name was drawn as part of our Summer Membership drive -- all those who renewed or upgraded their Membership by the end of August were eligible. Congratulations Elinor!

The Strand reached its Summer Membership Drive goal of reaching the level of 1,000 Members by August 31. Anna Jennings of Rockland was recognized as the 1,000th person to join the Strand’s Membership program.

Anna was presented with a gift bag and warm thanks from Membership Coordinator Jessica Ripley and Theater Manager Liz McLeod. Anna shared a few stories about her first visits to the Strand in 2007, including one about a several-hour wait in the rain with two friends to be one of the first in line to buy season tickets for the Strand’s first-ever Metropolitan Opera Live-In-HD season.

According to Anna, she joined as a member to help ensure that the Strand will continue as a valuable resource to the community for years to come. “Oh, and the sound is award winning!”

The theater, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, became a nonprofit in January 2014 and is now operated by Friends of the Strand Theatre. The Strand’s Membership program was launched in April 2014. Memberships, as well as grants, sponsorships and fundraising efforts, help pay the operating expenses for the wide range of cultural and educational programming the theater presents.

Strand Membership Coordinator Jessica Ripley made an appearance, along with her daughter and a friend as gaint popcorn boxes. Our thanks to Hurricane Isalnd Outward Bound School, who provided the boat, truck and driver for our salty crew!

Across the nation, fishermen and scientists are observing notable shifts in the ocean ecosystem and dramatic changes on the water. This series of four short films examines how the fishing industry is dealing with climate change, including warming waters, lack of biodiversity, and ocean acidification. The fourth film introduces shellfish aquaculture as an example of economic diversification for fishing communities. The films take place in Maine, Alaska, and Florida, and were produced by the Island Institute’s Scott Sell.

Folk-rock trio THE EDNA PROJECT will present a unique concert, “Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Poetry Set to Music” at the Strand Theatre, 345 Main Street, on Thursday, June 21 at 7pm. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of the Edna St.Vincent Millay Birthplace in Rockland.

THE EDNA PROJECT (wife and husband Liz Queler and Seth Farber, with son Joey Farber) are two-time grammy nominees perform an eclectic melding of folk, bluegrass, rock and jazz, presented with humor and outstanding harmonies. They have brought this performance to museums, libraries, clubs, concert halls and festivals, including Newport Folk and Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center). The concerts include projections of Millay, her home and artifacts, and her poems. The project was born when Liz, frustrated by writer’s block, opened a volume of Millay’s poetry and decided to compose music to the lyrics she read. Soon enthralled by the life and works of the unconventional, bohemian Millay (1892 - 1950) Liz immersed herself in Millay’s world and was inspired to create The Edna Project along with her husband Seth.

Hailed by Billboard Magazine as “a singer's singer”, Liz Queler (vocals/guitar/mandolin), a native New Yorker and the daughter of renowned opera conductor Eve Queler, has performed on esteemed stages from the Newport Folk Festival to Carnegie Hall. Her voice and compositions have been heard on countless jingles as well as TV and film soundtracks.

Seth Farber (keyboards/accordion/vocals) was musical director to the late, great Odetta for ten years, producing three CDs, two of which were nominated for Grammys. He was also assistant conductor at the Broadway musical "Hairspray" for it's 6 year run.

Joey Farber is fast amassing his own impressive credits, boasting 3 national jingles, an off Broadway show (Soul Doctor), and appearances on Saturday Night Live, and Late Night With David Letterman.

Both Liz and Seth currently tour with Grammy nominated children's rock band "Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could." Along with their son, Joey, they were featured on Rosie O'Donnell's HBO special "A Family is a Family Is A Family."

Proceeds from the performance will benefit the Rockland Historical Society’s project Saving A Literary Landmark - Restoring the Edna St. Vincent Millay Birthplace.

The mission of the Historical Society’s Millay House Committee: “To honor the life and preserve the legacy of the great American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, the Millay House Committee of the Rockland Historical Society seeks to restore and share her birthplace at 198-200 Broadway in Rockland, Maine, and to foster a literary organization to perpetuate that legacy, and to promote creativity and heritage tourism in mid-coast Maine.”

Twice each year, the Strand offers free movie screenings as a thank you to our Members! Any person who becomes a Strand Theatre Member prior to this screening is invited to attend -- Memberships will also be available to purchase at the door.

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY: Does sex make it impossible for men and women to be true friends? This romantic comedy chronicles this dilemma through the eleven year relationship between Harry and Sally who meet in college, then pursue their own lives until they reconnect ten years later. Directed by Rob Reiner. Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher. R (USA | 1989)

Strand Members should present their membership cards at the door to receive ticket(s) for admission and a coupon for a free popcorn and fountain drink. Friend and Fan levels receive one free admission; Supporter, Sustainer, Patron, Benefactor, Star, and Superstar levels receive two admissions.

No regular admission tickets will be available for this show. Information about the Strand Membership program is available on the Strand Theatre website, by calling 207-701-5053 or by emailing jripley@rocklandstrand.com.